Optoelectric integrated device having a three-dimensional solid configuration

Abstract

An optoelectric integrated device includes a three-dimensional solid semiconductor crystal, such as a silicon ball, and a plurality of optical devices including a light-emitting device and a light-receiving device integrated on the surface of the semiconductor crystal. Light is emitted and received between the light-emitting device and the light-receiving device through the interior of the semiconductor crystal used as an optical wiring medium.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. An optoelectric integrated device comprising: 
       a three-dimensional solid semiconductor crystal; and  
       a plurality of optical devices, including a light-emitting device and a light-receiving device, said optical devices being integrated on a surface of said semiconductor crystal,  
       wherein light is emitted and received between said light-emitting device and said light-receiving device through an interior of said semiconductor crystal which is used as optical wiring medium.  
     
     
       2. The optoelectric integrated device according to  claim 1 , further comprising an electronic device, wherein said semiconductor crystal comprises a silicon (Si) ball, and said electronic device and said optical devices are integrated on a surface of said Si ball. 
     
     
       3. The optoelectric integrated device according to  claim 2 , wherein said optical device includes a portion composed of III-VN semiconductor material or IV semiconductor material. 
     
     
       4. The optoelectric integrated device according to  claim 3 , wherein said III-VN semiconductor material is selected from the group consisting of GaNAs, GaInNAs, AlNAs, and GaInNAsP. 
     
     
       5. The optoelectric integrated device according to  claim 3 , wherein said IV semiconductor material is SiGe. 
     
     
       6. The optoelectric integrated device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a buffer layer for lattice matching which is formed on the surface of said semiconductor crystal, wherein said optical devices are formed on said buffer layer. 
     
     
       7. The optoelectric integrated device according to  claim 1 , wherein said light-emitting device is constructed such that it emits spontaneous emission light or induced emission light into the interior of said semiconductor crystal, the light having a wavelength longer than a bandgap wavelength of said semiconductor crystal. 
     
     
       8. The optoelectric integrated device according to  claim 7 , wherein at least one said light-receiving device is arranged to receive the light emitted by said light-emitting device. 
     
     
       9. The optoelectric integrated device according to  claim 1 , wherein said light-emitting device is constructed such that it emits spontaneous emission light or induced emission light into an exterior of said semiconductor crystal. 
     
     
       10. The optoelectric integrated device according to  claim 1 , wherein said light-receiving device is arranged such that it receives light emitted into the interior of said semiconductor crystal by one or a plurality of said light-emitting devices. 
     
     
       11. The optoelectric integrated device according to claim  1 , wherein said light-receiving device is arranged such that it receives light from an exterior of said semiconductor crystal. 
     
     
       12. The optoelectric integrated device according to  claim 1 , wherein said optical devices include plural such light-emitting devices and light-receiving devices, and wherein said light-emitting devices include a light-emitting device which can emit light into the interior of said semiconductor crystal toward a predetermined one of said light-receiving devices, and a light-emitting device which can emit light into the interior of said semiconductor crystal toward a plurality of predetermined ones of said light-receiving devices. 
     
     
       13. The optoelectric integrated device according to  claim 1 , further comprising an electronic device formed on the surface of said semiconductor crystal, said electronic device having at least one function selected from the group of switching on and off said light-emitting device, converting light received by said light-receiving device into an electric signal, and performing at least one arithmetic or logical operation on the basis of the electric signal. 
     
     
       14. An optoelectric integrated device comprising: 
       a silicon (Si) ball;  
       a plurality of optical devices, including a light-emitting device and a light-receiving device, said light-emitting device having an oscillation wavelength longer than a bandgap wavelength of said Si ball; and  
       an electronic device, said electronic device having at least one function selected from the group of switching on and off said light-emitting device, converting light received by said light-receiving device into an electric signal, and performing at least one arithmetic or logical operation on the basis of the electric signal, and said optical devices and said electronic device being integrated on a surface of said Si ball,  
       wherein light is emitted and received between said light-emitting device and said light-receiving device through an interior of said Si ball which is used as optical wiring medium.  
     
     
       15. An optoelectric integrated device comprising: 
       a spherical semiconductor; and  
       at least one of a light-emitting device for emitting signal light into an interior of said spherical semiconductor and a light-receiving device for receiving signal light transmitted through the interior of said spherical semiconductor.